COVID-19 has caused pre-season complications for Warrington Wolves and their Super League rivals.

However, new signing for 2022 Peter Mata'utia says The Wire are trying to use it in a positive light.

The spread of the Omicron variant caused case numbers to rise dramatically across the country, with hundreds of thousands of people testing positive every day during its peak.

It is understood there have been no serious outbreaks among the squad during pre-season and while case numbers are coming down nationally, extra precautions are being taken to ensure that remains the case.

As such, the show goes on in terms of preparations for the 2022 campaign as new head coach Daryl Powell gets his players to grips with his style of play.

Another campaign is set to start amid the backdrop of the pandemic after the past two campaigns have been heavily disrupted, although the RFL has now green-lighted the return of scrums to the domestic game after 85 per cent of players became fully vaccinated.

Rather than focus on what any potential outbreak may take away from the squad, however, Mata'utia chose to focus on the chances it may present to others.

"As a club and as a group, we’re looking at the Covid situation as a positive," he told the Guardian.

"To be honest with Covid, Powelly has done a good job of making us understand that it is what it is.

"We have to keep cracking on as we’re going to be affected by it during the season at some point.

"It gives the younger players a chance to step up and have a crack as well as they’re going to be needed at times."

Mata'utia has followed Powell to The Halliwell Jones Stadium from Castleford Tigers along with second rower Oliver Holmes and assistant coaches Ryan Sheridan and Danny Evans.

It means there are plenty of familiar faces to aid the settling-in process, with Gareth Widdop and Mike Cooper also former teammates from his time at St George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL.

The versatile outside back also revealed a former Wire star gave the club a big thumbs-up upon speaking to them about joining.

"I had a good chat with Ben Murdoch-Masila about the place and he had nothing but good things to say," the Samoan international said.

"I agreed pretty early in the year and once I did that, I started having a chat with Coops and Gaz about what they thought. I didn’t want to go to deep into it as we were all still playing.

"I certainly did my diligence – it was a tough but easy decision at the same time."

Having joined the Tigers from Leigh Centurions in 2018, the 31-year-old is certainly well versed in what Wolves' new leader expects from his players.

In his first few months at the club, Mata'utia says seeing how his new teammates respond to Powell's methods has been enlightening.

"It’s been really good, to be honest," he said.

"Obviously I’ve worked with Powelly for years so I know what he expects and what standards he sets.

"To see how the other players are finding the new training system has been pretty cool.

"I’m really excited and have been enjoying my time so far."